Congratulations to each member of the exceptional graduating Class of 2020! You have achieved a landmark goal that you've pursued for the past thirteen years. While graduation is one of life's great forward-looking ceremonies, it is also a time to momentarily pause on the summit of your high school experience. Legendary Coach John Wooden's favorite book is The Robe, by Lloyd Douglas. There's a great quote in that book, "Life is like a journey, often too even and easy and dull over long distances along the plains, too hard and painful up the steep grades; but, on the summits of the mountain, you have a magnificent view—and feel exalted—and your eyes are full of happy tears—and you want to sing—and you wish you had wings! And then—you can't stay there, but must continue your journey—you begin climbing down the other side, so busy with your footholds that your summit experience is forgotten." This is definitely a summit experience!

During your high school years, you have made friends of a lifetime who have not only helped you along your way but contributed to the person you have become. Try to stay close to them. Each of you has been influenced by teachers who have had tremendous impact for good on your lives. Reflect often on the lessons they taught you. Parents and family members have supported you through every challenge you've encountered. Always love them and never be shy to express that love.

Whenever I hear the term "Twenty-Twenty" I think first about clear vision. For you, the Class of 2020, I hope for that kind of keen vision as you look to your future. I want each of you to clearly see what one author described as "your element," or that place where the things you love to do and the things that you're good at intersect as your career. That's no easy thing! I want you to be able to bring into focus what your place in the world will be. I can tell you this—the world needs you! Each of you has much to contribute to our world and we need you. And, while I want each of you to find your career—your personal element—and be extraordinarily successful, I hope you never confuse your life and your work. Your work is what you do. Your life is who you are. Too many get well down their life's journey only to realize that they confused the two.

I also want you to envision how you can help make our world a better place. I know you can clearly see that we don't have to be so divided. There's so much more that unites, rather than divides us. I hope you envision a world where we not only tolerate one another's differences, but truly embrace and celebrate that diversity. I can't imagine a more boring place to live than one where everyone was just like me! I hope you see early on that real happiness comes from helping others. In fact, I have found that one of life's greatest paradoxes is that selflessness is really the best thing you can do for yourself. It really is one of the unique and curious truths of our human experience! Living a selfless life may just serve as a reminder that none of us is really all that special—because EVERYONE is!

One final thing—each of us is heartbroken that we can't celebrate your accomplishments by shaking your hand, looking you in the eye and telling you how proud we are of you. Because your graduation took place during a global pandemic, you don't get to enjoy some of the traditional rites of passage that typically go along with this milestone achievement. We are all truly sorry about that. But, perhaps experiencing this kind of disappointment rather early in life will give you some insight into how to face adversity with courage and optimism. I really believe that the insight you've gained by facing disappointment without becoming bitter or losing hope will one day be a tremendous advantage for you. Perhaps, you'll face some deep disappointment later in life that will require you to draw on the strength of character this current disappointment helped you develop. This strength of character will help you be stronger in overcoming some future setback. Or, maybe someone that you love dearly will experience disappointment in their life. Because of things that you've learned as part of the graduating Class of 2020, you will have developed "20-20" vision that will allow you to better understand what they're going through and be able to help them face up to adversity and inspire them to do so.

Congratulations! Best of luck to each of you. And, on behalf of all who care about and believe in you, we hope you make for yourselves extraordinary lives--for your sake and for ours. I admire each of you!

As a Weber School District employee you need to verify that you wish to be an employee each year. This is your Verification of Employment.

You can verify that you wish to continue as an employee by submitting the Verification of Employment form that is sent out each year.

If you missed the Verification of Employment form in your email please contact Beth Pessetto at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 801-476-7886 for verbal verification.

The U.S. Department of Education archived Dear Colleague Letters can be found at: https://www2.ed.gov/print/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201104.html Note as of October 2, 2017, The U.S. Department of Education has withdrawn 72 guidance documents as part of the federal administration’s efforts to do away with “unnecessary regulatory burdens.” Most of the rescinded documents are in the form of Dear Colleague letters:

9 were originally issued by the Rehabilitation Services Administration and addressed the Rehabilitation Act;

63 were originally issued by the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) and addressed aspects of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

The most recently issued (and now rescinded) guidance was from 2014; the majority of the guidance documents were originally issued in the 1990s and 2000s. The list of rescinded guidance includes a brief description of why each document was rescinded.

Between May 4-6, you will receive a mailing containing an ACT Voucher Letter and your student's individual ACT voucher. You will likely also receive an email from your school's principal with school-specific instructions. Further information can be found by exploring the content in the buttons below and on the ACT website (www.actstudent.org). If you have further questions or need support registering, please contact either your school's ACT administrator or Sheri Heiter (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

*NOTE: When completing the online registration, please be sure not to answer any questions regarding religious affiliation or parental income. Also, students should opt "no" on the Educational Opportunity Service. This practice is in accordance with USBE Board Rule.

Graduation Video Instructions

Bonneville, Fremont, Roy, and Weber High

Bonneville, Fremont, Roy, and Weber High Schools are using Google Classroom to collect videos from students and to give further specific information for each school. Seniors need to go to Google Classroom while logged into their school google account (@wsdstudent.net), then click Join on the Class Of 2020 Graduation Video course. Students will be invited and will receive an email invite by Friday, May 1st.